Mark Faubel -City Council Candidate

What motivated you to run at this moment in Westerville’s development?
City governance requires prudence, transparency, and practical solutions without activism. I’m running to restore that principle. I believe in thoughtful, balanced governance. I’m running for city council because our city deserves leadership rooted in service for all the residents, not activism for a few.

What have you heard from residents that’s challenged or reshaped how you view the city’s priorities?
Based on the openly far-left political bias of some city council members I would have thought that the majority of Westerville wanted to become the next Detroit, Portland, or Chicago. As I have met people though this campaign, I have come to realize that a very large portion of the citizens do not want to be a sanctuary city. A very large portion of the of the citizens do not want activism taking place with their tax dollars and resources. A very large portion of citizens want the original intent of Westerville’s Council-Manager form of government to be restored. As a reminder to everyone here is a quote directly from the City of Westerville website describing the purpose of out Westerville leadership, “From eliminating party politics to promoting a more business-oriented approach to governance and saving public dollars by eliminating waste and enhancing accountability, advocates of this new system passionately articulated the advantages of reform to their fellow residents.” That is my priority as city council.

What do you believe Westerville needs to hold onto as it continues to grow?
I believe we need to restore and then remain a NON-Partisan city council. As this election will show we are not a community of one mind. A non-partisan lens from our city leadership means that decisions will be made based on what is best for all citizens and not just one side. It is also important for people to re-learn how to disagree and still be friends. This begins when we hear an opposing view, we can discuss it respectfully with an open mind, and recognize that a different view does not mean enemy.

How do you approach decisions that create winners and losers, like development projects that benefit one part of the city over another?
Decisions that create winners and losers are some of the toughest we face. We should approach them by asking: Who benefits? Who might be impacted? And how can we make this a win for more of Westerville—not just a few? That means listening to residents across all neighborhoods and weighing the long-term effects of any project. Growth should be smart, transparent, and rooted in what strengthens our city as a whole. If one part of Westerville thrives while another struggles, we’re missing the bigger picture. I want to make sure our decisions reflect shared priorities and build momentum for everyone.

What does a balanced approach to growth look like to you?
A balanced approach to growth means making sure Westerville thrives without losing what makes it special. That means we’re not just building new developments — we’re strengthening existing neighborhoods, preserving green space, and investing in infrastructure that serves everyone. Growth should be thoughtful, not rushed. It should reflect our values: safe streets, walkable communities, and opportunities for local businesses. We need to ask, ‘Who benefits from this growth?’ and make sure the answer includes longtime residents, young families, seniors, and everyone in between. I believe in planning that’s proactive, not reactive — where we anticipate needs, listen to residents, and make decisions that hold up 10, 20, even 50 years from now. That’s how we keep Westerville vibrant and rooted in community.

When you think about the East of Africa project, what’s your biggest hope—and your biggest concern?
My biggest hope and concern is that the intent of the project is the reality. The project aims to attract new businesses, generate jobs, and grow the city’s tax base. Roads and infrastructure are included in the plans for the development but Uptown may not be prepared. Parking is already big issue and traffic is becoming an issue. Infusing more drivers into our community through these new businesses will certainly escalate the parking and traffic issues, especially in Uptown. I am hopeful that new businesses will be balanced in purpose between professional and leisure.

How do you respond to residents who feel that older neighborhoods are being left behind?
I hear that concern, and I take it seriously. Every neighborhood in Westerville matters — whether it’s been here for 100 years or just 10. Older neighborhoods are the backbone of our community. They hold our history and our longtime residents. But I also recognize that they sometimes feel overlooked when it comes to infrastructure, amenities, or investment. That’s why I believe in a balanced approach: one that ensures we’re not just growing outward, but also reinvesting inward. That means prioritizing maintenance of sidewalks and streets, supporting aging housing stock, and making sure our parks and public services are equitably distributed. I want to work with residents in these neighborhoods — not just to listen, but to act. Whether it’s through neighborhood associations, targeted improvement plans, or simply showing up and walking the streets with folks who live there, I’m committed to making sure no part of Westerville is left behind.

What’s one way you would bring more public insight or influence into large-scale planning decisions?
Westerville does put forth efforts to gather public insight for planning decisions already. The issue may be the timing, location, and circumstances. I think that if we really want public insight we mobilize and host events in the vicinity where the changes will affect the community at a time when people are home and provide childcare and food to remove reasons that prevent people from attending.

How do you see the city’s current zoning code affecting the range of housing types available, including for first-time buyers and renters?
Westerville’s current zoning code has a big impact on the kinds of homes we’re able to offer—and right now, it’s limiting our options. Most of our zoning is geared toward single-family homes on larger lots, which makes it harder to build the kinds of housing that young families and seniors are looking for. We need to take a hard look at how our zoning rules shape what gets built. That doesn’t mean changing the character of our neighborhoods—it means giving people more choices. Thoughtful updates to our zoning code could help us create walkable, mixed-income areas that reflect the needs of today’s residents while preserving what we love about Westerville.

How should city leaders weigh resident identity and neighborhood character against financial returns?
Living in Westerville is a reward for hard work. Over the years the city of Westerville has been thoughtfully built to offer great amenities, safe neighborhoods, and strong community. Westerville is a desirable location to live. People work hard, save their money, and make sacrifices to live here. Resident identity is not applicable. When you live here you pay a 2% income tax regardless of your identity. When you own property here you pay super high property taxes regardless of your identity. The financial returns will be steady with the wage growth of our citizens and the strategic business growth we continue to develop. During this election I have been walking through neighborhoods that I had never been to before. I found neighborhoods that were hidden gems and I saw some individual homes that may need a ‘character’ upgrade. I would advocate that we use a good portion of the Community Partnership funds to help residents in need of repairs in conjunction with the Westerville Home Repair Program. All Westerville residents have worked hard to be here, if a setback has occurred let’s help our neighbor stay here in their home, in good repair and appearance.

What kind of partnership should exist between council and residents, not just legally, but in spirit?
Residents should be able to rely on city council to advocate for them. This is a quote directly from the City of Westerville website “From eliminating party politics to promoting a more business-oriented approach to governance and saving public dollars by eliminating waste and enhancing accountability, advocates of this new system passionately articulated the advantages of reform to their fellow residents.” This is in reference to the Council-Manager form of government that apply in Westerville. From that lens, guidance and decisions for Westerville should be made.

What would success look like for you as a council member, in both policy and relationships?
I will succeed as a council member when policies are shaped by a lens that includes every citizen, and our community feels safe to share ideas—without fear of being silenced or shamed. Success on council means standing up for open and civil dialogue. No one should be threatened or cancelled for speaking up—we need leadership that listens to all voices and does not ignore common sense to appease a political agenda. Too often, fear of backlash keeps good ideas from being shared. I’ll succeed as a council member by fostering a culture where every citizen can speak freely and policies are built on broad input, not the loudest.

What do you want future residents to thank this council for?
I would like future residents to thank the council elected this November for restoring non-partisan leadership. We have enough politics nationally, at the state level, and likely some at work/school. Our community should be a place where we can look at our neighbors, neighborly. We should be able to trust the council to ensure safety, service, maintenance, and responsible management of the taxpayer resources. We should not be worried that we will have rights removed or restricted, not be worried that activist council will turn our home into Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore, Portland…. This quote is directly from the City of Westerville website “From eliminating party politics to promoting a more business-oriented approach to governance and saving public dollars by eliminating waste and enhancing accountability, advocates of this new system passionately articulated the advantages of reform to their fellow residents.” It is still true, over 100 years later.

What was not asked in this questionnaire that needs to be answered?
It was not asked ‘why do some council members use the city council as a tool to promote political agendas’? Our city council was created to be non-partisan for ALL the citizens. Why would any council member use taxpayer resources to force their beliefs or agendas on the people who fund the city? This quote is directly from the City of Westerville website “From eliminating party politics to promoting a more business-oriented approach to governance and saving public dollars by eliminating waste and enhancing accountability, advocates of this new system passionately articulated the advantages of reform to their fellow residents.” That has been ignored by some council recently.